Chapter 24
That evening Emma and I went together to pick up Henry from Ruby's place and as she opened the door I could see her questioning gaze on me.
"Emma, why don't you take Henry to the car while I speak to Ruby for a moment." I tell her as I make my way into Ruby's apartment.
Emma nods at me and throws another smile at Ruby before she places her hands on Henry's shoulders, "C'mon kiddo, let's go wait in the car, and then we can go get ice cream." She tells him, while ruffling his hair and walking down the hall.
"Shh… Emma, mom will hear you!" he whispers to her while turning back to see if I heard.
I just simply laugh it off.
"Hey" Emma says, stopping Henry as she kneels down. "It was actually her idea." She tells him as his eyes light up.
He looks back at me, completely elated, "Thanks mom!" he yells before running down the hall.
I laugh again, loving this light feeling I have.
"My my, Regina a lot can change in one night." Ruby says as I catch her staring at me.
"Would you believe me if I told you that it has taken me a very long time to get here?" I ask her, and I step in fully and close the door behind me.
"Well that was totally cryptic, but hey, I am just glad that you two are doing okay. When I left last night it seemed like you two were either going to kill each other or have sex! I guess the latter happened…" she says grinning at me devilishly, and it makes me flush which only made her believe she was right.
"Well I will say this, Emma and I have come to terms with our feelings, and I really want to pursue it." I tell her timidly.
"Wow, you mean you both actually spoke about it?" She asks, as she takes a seat on a barstool near her kitchen, and I take a seat on the other.
"I mean, I honestly thought you guys were gonna hook up to blow off some steam. But I didn't think anything else…" she says, looking both shocked and a little happy as well.
"Ruby I am only telling you this because I feel that you and I.. well let's just say that I trust you, and it's hard for me to do that, but I know you will not betray my confidence." I tell her because even if it didn't happen here, she was there for me and I am forever grateful for it.
"Yes, ofcourse you can trust me" she says, putting a reassuring hand on my knee as she says it.
"Well… last night.. we confessed our deep feelings, and it's been so long since I have been in love, and had the love returned, without any expectations. Oh it's such a wonderful feeling. I never thought…" I tell her as I get choked up and am unable to finish my sentence. I wanted to say I never thought I was worthy of such a love.
"Oh hun, I am so happy for you.. .really. Just wow. Emma finally spilled the beans, huh?" She says looking at me.
"Yes, I believe we both did." I tell her, as I laugh again, and try to hold in the tears as I get up.
"Well I thinks it's great Regina, and next time you need a babysitter just let me know." She tells me winking, as we walk to her door.
"I just wanted to say thank you for reaching out to me, and for being a good friend to the both of us. I know we have only been friends a very brief time, but it has meant so much to me..." I tell her again, trying to smile through the tears that are once again forming.
"Whoa, hey, it's okay. You are acting like we are never going to see each other again or something. You planning on skipping town with Swan?" She says as she puts her hands on my shoulders to turn me to face her fully.
"Oh.. no, I just wanted to tell you that I value our friendship, and I am grateful for it." I try to reassure her, even though I do not know when I will ever see this Ruby again.
"Well maybe we can grab some lunch sometime soon, you know, and really get to know each other as friends. I think if you let other see this side of you.. then there'd be all kinds of people trying to be your friend Regina." She says smiling at me.
"Well be that as it may, I am content with what I have right now. And lunch sounds great, maybe next week sometime." I tell her as I gently squeeze her arm and make my way to the car.
…
As we enter the ice cream parlor Henry immediately runs up to the counter to pick his flavors excitedly.
"Hey Mom, could I get a sundae?" he says to me trying to muster up the most innocent puppy dog face that he can.
"Hey, kid… don't push it." Emma says next to me as she gestures to a table in the corner of the establishment, but she's being playful with a glint in her eyes, and I can't take my eyes off of her.
She pulls out a chair for me, "After you, Madam." She says, bowing as she does.
"Why thank you, kind Lady." I tell her, and try not to laugh, that is, until I look up and see Henry just starting at us strangely.
"Um… are you two feeling okay?" he asks as he makes his way towards us, forgetting about the ice cream for a moment.
"What do you mean, dear?" I ask him.
"Well… it's just that you guys have been acting kinda strange since earlier at Ruby's. I mean I'm glad you are getting along, but it's just a little… weird." He says, still looking between us questioningly, and I can already see his little brain at work.
"Uhh… Kid, see the thing is…" Emma starts to say looking towards me pleadingly, obviously at a loss for words right now.
"Henry" I say, turning him fully towards me so I'm looking in his eyes since we are at the same height with me sitting, "Why don't you go get a banana split?" I tell him.
"Really?" He asks, and then looks back at Emma, "And then we'll talk about what's going on?" he says.
He's just too smart to be distracted by sweets.
"Yes really dear, we should all enjoy to indulge ourselves," I say, but looking up at Emma as I say this. "Well atleast every now and then." I tell him patting his hair, but smirking at Emma over his head.
"You can go pick whatever flavors you like, and then the three of us can share it, okay?" I ask him, but still looking at Emma as I see a look that I haven't seen yet cross her face.
"Okay, great! Thanks mom." he says as he hugs me and takes off towards the woman behind the counter.
I laugh a little at his enthusiasm, and then look again towards Emma who is now sitting directly across me with a little smile.
"What" I ask her, feeling a little self-conscious under her intense gaze, so I look away.
She leans forward so that our faces are much closer as she gently pulls my face towards her so that I'm looking into her eyes again.
"I'm just admiring this stunning beauty in front of me, this amazingly incredible mother, and person..." She says, and her eyes are so sincere, as she whispers this to me.
"Emma.. Please.." I say, because honestly what can I say? She really doesn't even know me here in this time, or what I have done to her, to her family in the past.
"No, I mean it Regina. I mean, I didn't want to get all deep right now, or whatever, especially being in the middle of an ice cream shop and all…" she says craning her neck back to look at the ceiling and then look around.
We are the only ones in here, but we are at the window, and anyone walking by can see how intimately we are sitting; how intimately we are looking at one another.
"But I just… I mean, how has no one swooped you up yet?" she asks me.
This does throw me, and I admit that in all my time here I am still a bit lost at times with the lingo or slang of this realm.
"Swooped up?" I ask her blankly.
This only makes her smile wider as she unconsciously gets even closer to me than before.
"Yeah.. you know… like, how come you aren't taken. I mean, this town is full of idiots if they aren't trying to break down your door to date, to marry you, to make love to you…" She trails off, finally flushing at what she is saying.
"I.…" She honestly has me speechless.
"I mean, Regina, I know that you can be a hard ass." She says, and I immediately raise my eyebrow at that.
"But that's just a front, you know. I mean, it's not who you really are, which is this amazing woman..." she trails off again, but this time she takes my hand and laces our fingers together.
"Emma…" I start to say, but we are interrupted when Henry ungracefully elbows me in the shoulder.
Snapping out of my Emma trance, I immediately look to my left to see him standing there holding the largest banana split concoction I have ever seen, but his eyes are focused on our linked hands.
I pull away, without thinking, and clear my throat.
"Um.. they need you to pay them." He says as he pushes past Emma, who has by now pulled back, but looked a little wounded that I let go of her hand.
"Alright.. dear, I will be right back." I say, and as I'm walking to the register I realize that both mother and son nod their head at me before diving into the sugar filled treat.
I go up, and pay the waitress, who I do not recognize, and she just smiles at me.
I smile back and say thank you as she gives my change.
I'm in a generous mood so I put all of the remaining change into her tip jar, which only makes her smile widen.
"Wow, thanks Madam Mayor." She says to me, and I realize that I have never brought Henry here, which is why I do not recognize her.
"No problem, dear." I say as I turn to walk away.
"Uhh.. Madam Mayor.." She says with trepidation in her voice as I turn around.
"You have a beautiful family, I mean, I've seen you around town, like ever since I can remember, but it's nice to see you out… like this, you know.. just happy and stuff." She says, slightly blushing as she looks down.
"Thank you, and yes, I think we will have to come back more often" I tell her as I slowly turn and walk back to the table.
When I arrive there, it is truly a sight to see.
Henry has more ice cream covering his face, than where I can see skin, and Emma, well she's a little more distinguished, but still they have eaten more than half of it and do not look like they have come up for air.
It brings a light chuckle out of my mouth as I sit down, and that's when Emma looks up at me and smiles.
I smile back, and tuck an errant hair behind my ear.
"Moms, c'mon you gotta eat it before it melts." Henry says, rolling his eyes, before he dives back in.
This brings another chuckle out of my mouth as I grab a napkin and begin to clean his face, as best I can while he still eats.
"Oh Henry, please slow down, it's not going anywhere dear, and you'll give yourself a stomach ache." I tell him.
"Yeah that or major brain freeze" Emma says beside me as she grabs her head and closes her eyes.
This brings a laugh out of both Henry and I as we watch her with her struggle.
"Oh you think this is funny don't you? Well open wide Regina, cuz now you gotta finish the rest." Emma says sneakily as she takes her spoon and scoops up a piece of banana and some vanilla ice cream.
I pull back, but that only makes her push herself further, and before I know it there is ice cream dripping down my bare shoulder, and as I go to yell at her she is hoisting her spoon in my mouth.
It tastes a little too sweet, but divine nonetheless, and I close my eyes and enjoy the taste.
That is, until I feel someone lick my shoulder and I quickly look over to see Emma pulling away, and then I look over to Henry who looks completely disgusted as he drops the spoon back into the large bowl of ice cream.
"Emma!" I chastise her, as I then look around to see if anyone else had seen.
We may be in love, but it is still very private, and I am still a very private person.
"I'm sorry, I got a little caught up in the moment." She says looking at me with apologetic puppy eyes, the same our son used earlier.
"Um… you know I'm still sitting here right? What is happening with you two? Why are you acting all gross like you're in love or something?" he asks eyeing us both, and for a moment I feel like a young teenager being reprimanded by a parent as I try to look away and not make eye contact.
"Kid, knock it off ok. And cut us some slack. It was just a sugar overload is all? I was not in control of my actions." Emma tries to convince him, but he's not buying it, and I am proud that my son is not that gullible.
That's when I realize that lying to Henry has never helped the situation; that and the fact that he almost always finds a way to get to the truth in the end.
"Emma, it's alright, I think that Henry is mature enough to know the truth." I say, and then look towards him, "and I'm sure he will handle the information like the good young man that he is." I say to also pump up his ego a bit, which works as he nods towards us vigorously.
"Alright. Well Henry, as you know… your mother and I didn't exactly get along very well when she first arrived." I say to him, as he nods, encouraging me to continue.
"Well. Somewhere in between the time that she moved in, and well… very recently, the both of us. I must tell you, dear, that we did not plan for this to happen." I suddenly feel the crushing weight of what I am about to tell him, and it's too frightening to think he may reject the idea all together.
Emma then takes my hand under the table, and squeezes as I look towards her for help, and she just smiles at me.
"Henry… Kid.. listen, the thing is that you're right.. We are in love." Emma says, and I am shocked that she was able to say it with such a steady voice, unwaveringly.
I look towards him, and he's still trying to process it all, and I know he wants to ask so many questions, but he is trying his best to be mature.
After a few minutes I can feel that Emma's palms are sweating, and give her a gentle reassuring squeeze of my own as I clear my throat.
"Henry, sweetheart, do you have any questions?" I ask him nervously.
"How did this happen? I mean Emma was supposed to come back to break the curse, and you're the Evil Queen…" Henry says, and I nod because he's absolutely right.
"Oh please Henry, we have talked about this so many times. It's one thing to have a problem with our relationship, but how many times have I told you to give up on that damn book." Emma says, as she slams down her hand on the table, making both Henry and I jump.
"But Emma…" Henry tries to reason, but she cuts him off immediately.
"No Henry, your mother gave you the chance to handle this like a grownup, and what do you do? Throw that back in her face?" She says, getting increasingly upset and for a moment I have to put my hand on her shoulder to pull her away from him before she says anything else because I can already see the tears forming in his eyes.
"Emma, thank you for what you said, but in this case, I think it would be okay for Henry to just say whatever he feels, and hopefully we can work through it." I tell her and then lower my hand to her back and begin rubbing in a comforting fashion.
She quickly deflates, nodding her head as she looks back at Henry.
"Look Henry, I'm sorry I got so upset, but I never want to hear anyone speak about your mother that way, I hope you understand that, even if it's you, it will upset me." She says to him in a more gentle voice then she was just using.
I just stare at her in awe for a moment, as no one has ever defended me in such a way. Even from her own flesh and blood, her son, whom I know she loves with all of her heart, she still defended me. It makes me feel increasingly warm inside to know that someone is finally going to be on my side, in every sense of the word, and before I can stop myself I whisper, "thank you so much, my love" as I bring my hand to her cheek and caress it.
She looks at me then and her face completely morphs into a large smile, leaning into my touch and kissing the inside of my palm.
"Wow, you two really do love each other?" he asks with a smile slowly breaking out on his face.
We both just nod at him.
"Well, you know mom has actually really changed a lot lately, now that I think about it. I have only seen her smile at me the way she smiles at you. And Mom never smiles at anybody the way she does with me. and I'm sorry Emma but I still think you're the Savior, but now I think that maybe you were meant to save her too." He says as the wheels are still turning in his head.
Emma looks towards me and smiles, and then makes a gesture suggesting that Henry is crazy, but I know without a doubt that he is 100% right about it all.
I even think he is right about Emma saving me because I cannot remember a time in my life that I have ever felt like I fit in.
But looking at her now, and looking over to him now as he mulls over this new information, I wish I had embraced this sooner, to see her so at ease and just being with them both here… now… it was everything I never knew that I had always wanted.
"Henry I want you to know that you will always be my number one, you know that. But I would also like to accept Emma into our family. Would you like that?" I ask him, pulling him out of his inner musings.
"Yes! Of course I would, does this mean that she's gonna stay with us forever? Are you going to finish this ice cream?" he asks, so innocently and it reminds me of how young he really is.
This makes Emma laugh this time, as she ruffles his hair and replies.
"Well lets take it one step at a time Hen, but I would love to stay for as long as you'll both have me." she says, a little timidly at the end.
He nods again as he pulls the bowl closer to him sneakily and begins the process of finishing off the bowl of what is now a soupy ice cream concoction, and I couldn't be happier about it.
….
A/N: Hello Everyone, I am thankful for all of you who are still sticking with me, I'm sorry for the wait between updates, but I hope to get on a more regular schedule soon.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and happy Labor Day to all my fellow Americans.
And last but not least, thank you for your reviews and private messages, please continue to do so, as it means the world to me :)
also... the drama will ensue next chapter, so enjoy the fluff while it lasts! ;)